While it wasn't a classic encounter, the chanting from the Santiago Bernabéu was familiar. After a long wait, Jude Bellingham finally stood before the home supporters with his arms wide open, basking in the fans' singing of Hey Jude. Following a lengthy layoff and uncertainty about his position, he scored his opening strike of the campaign, eventually delivering a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over a Italian opponent that made them work hard. “We had to sweat for it,” stated the Belgian goalkeeper.
Key Saves Ensure the Win
The shot-stopper understood better than anyone, having to save a one-on-one from Dušan Vlahović and produce another crucial stop from the French midfielder in the dying moments. This result leaves Madrid on nine points and the opposition team outside the qualifying spots. After a game with more shots than fluid football, the visiting coach may consider a decent start, with those saves representing a missed chance around the closing stages; their current situation however presents worrying statistics.
“A side from Italy in trouble is doubly threatening,” the Madrid coach had warned beforehand.
The Turin-based club, which were without a victory since last month, did cause Madrid issues at the beginning and once more near the conclusion. Madrid commanded possession, with a significant advantage, but Juventus threatened on the break, particularly with Pierre Kalulu running and the striker combining, firing off a dozen attempts compared to the home side's twenty-seven.
Promising Start for Away Side
The visitors began brightly, certainly. Within three minutes, they believed they were in front, Vlahović a little unlucky to be penalized for pulling the Brazilian defender. Three minutes later, Raúl Asencio had to intervene in front of him when the wing-back dashed clear on the right flank. Then three minutes after that, Weston McKennie's shot was deflected wide.
What followed, from the defender's drive, was a more impressive save. Fifteen minutes had gone. However, quickly the Italians' momentum had faded as well. Madrid assumed command. Largely it was all a bit functional, however, and the top chances fell to Aurélien Tchouaméni, who wouldn’t be Alonso’s striker of choice. A couple were off target, a third took a deflection; another chance with the head was missed by the center-back.
Turkish Talent Impresses
Most creative play were provided by the young Turk. Güler, whose play was the nearest thing there was to smooth attacking, was always involved. His neat stop and turn saw him deliver to the far post for Bellingham.
There was not much sign of Kylian Mbappé early on, but when he finally emerged it was the nearest Madrid came to a goal. Initially his shot was denied by Michele Di Gregorio, who would make several stops. Next some exquisite dribbling saw him turn Andrea Cambiaso twice until he went down to the ground and laid off to his teammate to fire over.
Second-Half Drama
Militão threw himself to stop Kalulu at the outset of the second period, and then came the customary Courtois rescue when suddenly Vlahović was away. The “inadvertent pass” had been quite something, with the defender intercepting a ball inside his own area and the ball bouncing from the instep of his foot right through the middle to past the center circle. Sprinting after it, ample room opening, the striker raced Militão, holding him off and heading into the area where the keeper saved.
Then what tends to happen occurred, the save compensated for by the score that comes after it. A flash from Vinícius Júnior set up it, working himself enough space amid multiple defenders to unleash a low, left-footed shot which hit the upright. Positioned in that forward position was Bellingham. With the deadlock broken, Madrid ought to have sealed the game, Mbappé stopped by the keeper and the Uruguayan seeing his volley deflected by Gatti. Subsequently Di Gregorio made a superb quick saves from the forward and Brahim Díaz.
There were more scares: as the game was slipping away, Raúl Asencio had to make a incredible last-ditch tackle as Madrid were exposed and at the risk of Loïs Openda unmarked in the area. Then in the dying moments Courtois dived to stop Thuram, his work complete. For the visitors, there was no way back, Bellingham’s first of the season the last of the match.
“It’s a great feeling, a while now since I’ve scored, a lot of time out and thinking of that instant, returning in the elite competition and against a big team. To get the decisive goal, in our stadium, it’s unbelievable. I felt comfortable, excellent. To play well was important and to score the winning goal helps the team greatly.”
Regarding his performance, he added: “I didn’t think last year was a disaster, still 15 goals, fourteen setups, but I understand the general feeling was that it was poorer. But I was a part of that, how we didn’t play as well last year, there were still positive spells but not the standard I aim to play at, not the caliber like the debut season. Now I’ve had my operation, a new manager, he’s got that system, how we want to play…. You have to learn from it.”
